Scout Notes
6 August 2017 2986 comments
davidwardale davidwardale
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Spurs win at Wembley, only for a Kieran Trippier injury to ring the Fantasy alarm bells, while Crystal Palace conclude a solid summer with a draw.

Elsewhere, Watford’s uninspiring pre-season finishes with another goalless affair and an equally lacklustre West Brom lose in Spain.

Here’s the second instalment of notes from Saturday’s action.

Spurs 2 Juventus 0

Fantasy ups and downs were in abundance at Wembley as Spurs completed their pre-season with a fine win over European A-listers Juventus.

The ups were many: Harry Kane delighted his 35.3% Fantasy Premier League ownership base with a goal; Christian Eriksen (13.8%) also scored and Spurs won at their new home to begin the long campaign to convince us all that Wembley won’t be a graveyard for their ambitions.

But the downside was an injury to right-back Kieran Trippier that has the potential to throw the defensive plans of 19.4% of FPL managers – he’s the most popular Spurs backline asset in the game – into some disarray.

Speaking post-match, Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino didn’t offer many clues as to the extent of Trippier’s issue.

“Kieran twisted his ankle, and we need to wait until Monday to assess him…Until we assess him and do a scan, we need to wait. You never know. The feeling now is better than at half-time. But still we need to wait and we cannot saying anything today and wait until Monday.”

Kyle Walker-Peters replaced Trippier. If the ex-Burnley man’s injury rules him out for a spell, then Walker-Peters – yet to be added to the FPL game – could emerge as a bargain route. However, quotes post-match from the Spurs boss suggested that the 20-year-old would not be considered for starts as yet.

He’s [Walkers-Peters] very young. It’s true that to think and to give the big responsibility like Kieran; it’s too much today for him. He’s a player that needs to work with us and maybe start to play in different games, but we cannot think that, in the case of Kieran’s weeks away from the team, only he can replace him.

Instead, Pochettino is likely to field a back four at Newcastle United in Gameweek 1 and turn to Eric Dier at right-back.

A four-man defence was used against Juventus, with Kane a lone striker supported by Eriksen, Dele Alli and Moussa Sissoko.

Kane headed home from a Trippier cross to open the scoring. Eriksen’s second-half goal was set up by Alli.

Spurs’ first four matches of the campaign are a mix of the good – Newcastle away, Burnley at home – and the tricky – a visit from Chelsea and a trip to Everton.

In fact, the first 12 Gameweeks are a combination of sweet and potentially sour, but that hasn’t stopped FPL managers including plenty of Spurs players in their squads.

No fewer than six of them have double-digit ownership figures, with Jan Vertonghen (9.7%) close to being a seventh. Trippier’s potential loss could have an impact on that, of course, but worries over Wembley might just be beginning to subside.

Pochettino was certainly happy with their new home, and more besides.

“It was good to play at Wembley before the start of the season, good to believe in the way we play and recover the feeling in the way we play and for me, that’s most important, not the result. Okay, the result gives you more belief, but it was about the performance, not the result.”

With Dier poised to replace Trippier at right-back should he be sidelined, Sissoko could be retained in midfield against his former club.

However, Pochettino also indicated that Heung-Min Son has not been ruled out of contention for the Tyneside trip.

“He [Son] is working hard. It’s true that he’s still recovering from his problem. Then next week we need to assess him if he’s available to be selected for next week.”

Spurs XI: Lloris; Trippier (Walker-Peters 41), Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Davies; Dier, Dembele (Wimmer 90); Sissoko (Georgiou 65), Alli (Winks 65), Eriksen (Oakley-Boothe 90); Kane (Janssen 78).

Crystal Palace 1 Schalke 04 1

Palace boss Frank de Boer seems to have settled on a back three as his side again went with wing-backs and made it three straight matches without defeat.

Julian Speroni – a 4.0 option in FPL – started in goal behind a defence that once more included midfielder Luka Milivojevic as a centre-back.

That continues to blunt his Fantasy appeal, although he is the side’s dead ball specialist, but does mean Ruben Loftus-Cheek – a 4.5-priced 14.2%-owned budget enabler – continues to be handed a starting role in the Eagles midfield.

Andros Townsend now seems nailed-on as a wing-back, which doesn’t do his Fantasy prospects much good, but Patrick van Aanholt’s second consecutive start on the opposite flank certainly boosts his stock.

A modest 4.0% of managers agree although that makes him the team’s most popular defensive pick.

Christian Benteke got his first goal of the summer against the Germans, with Wilfried Zaha providing the assist. The pair are owned by 10.0% and 22.9% respectively – testament to their genuine attacking threat in a side with a relatively favourable first five fixtures.

The one joker in the pack could be striker Jason Lokilo. The youngster also started against FC Metz over the summer – de Boer clearly sees something in the 18-year-old – although he is yet to be added into the FPL game.

De Boer had this to say on Lokilo in his post-match comments…

“I didn’t know him when I came in as he was an under-23 player but Mark Bright mentioned that he is one of the talented players in that group. We were a man or two short in training so we picked him to participate in them and he made a great impression of his qualities, and that’s why he deserved to play today.”

As for Speroni, we still feel that Wayne Hennessey will get the nod for the visit of Huddersfield Town in Gameweek 1, though this is far from certain.

Should the Palace veteran get the nod, he would join Newcastle United’s Rob Elliot as a second active 4.0 option to change the landscape of our keeper selection policy.

Crystal Palace XI: Speroni; Milivojevic, Dann, Reidewald (Tomkins 81); Townsend (Ward 70), Puncheon, Loftus-Cheek, Van Aanholt; Zaha, Lokilo (Lee 79), Benteke.

Watford 0 Real Sociedad 0

A second consecutive goalless stalemate drew the curtains on Watford’s rather drab summer.

Or, to put a more positive spin on it, that was the Hornets’ fourth clean sheet in six pre-season matches.

Either way, FPL interest in Watford assets remains appropriately underwhelming, with the side’s most popular player – the 8.0%-owned midfielder Etienne Capoue – only given a cameo role against Sociedad.

Boss Marco Silva, however, devoted some of his post-match comments to denying reports of a rift with the player.

“I don’t want to talk about what newspapers said. Normally I don’t have many problems with players in my career. The player worked hard. Today in his cameo he worked hard as well, and that’s what I want from my players.”

One of the few noteworthy aspects of yesterday’s match was new signing Nathaniel Chalobah featuring in the holding midfield role alongside Abdoulaye Doucoure, while Jerome Sinclair was preferred up front to Stefano Okaka as Troy Deeney continues to recover from injury.

Deeney is very unlikely to make the season opener with Liverpool, with Silva delivering his update on his fitness post-match…

“With Troy, he progressed well and we expect him to start to work with the team next week, with some precautions.”

Watford XI: Gomes; Janmaat (Femenia 70), Kaboul (Mariappa 79), Britos (Prodl 71), Holebas (Mason 79); Doucouré (Watson 72), Chalobah (Capoue 70); Amrabat, Cleverley (Hughes 71), Pereyra (Success 70); Sinclair (Okaka 46).

Deportivo La Coruna 2 West Brom 0

West Brom’s excellent set of opening fixtures has prompted many FPL managers to take the Baggies bait.

Bournemouth, Stoke City and West Ham at home and trips to Burnley and Brighton in the first five Gameweeks have rightly attracted attention.

But their summer form has been the wrong side of lacklustre, with five defeats and a draw in eight matches.

The latest setback arrived at the hands of Deportivo, with Jake Livermore receiving a straight red card.

Livermore had earlier taken on the armband after Jonny Evans was withdrawn late from the Baggies line-up. No explanation has been given for that decision, with the centre-back named in the original starting XI. Indeed, as of yet, there is absolutely no post-match reaction from the club in the local press, on social media or via their official site.

The pre-season is all about fitness rather than results, but a single clean sheet doesn’t bode well for a side that currently offers so little going forward.

Goalkeeper Ben Foster is, by some distance, the Baggies’ most popular FPL pick, with a 16.5% ownership base. In fact, no other West Brom player gets anywhere near double-digit ownership.

Their schedule remains inviting, their form anything but, and Fantasy apathy towards the rest of the side is entirely understandable.

West Brom XI: Foster (Myhill 46); Wilson, Dawson (O’Shea 46), Hegazi, Nyom (Roberts 67); Livermore, Yacob (Field 62), McClean, Rodriguez (Harper 46), Phillips (Leko 58); Rondon (Robson-Kanu 46).

Be sure to check out all the summer action in our Pre-Season Guide.

2,986 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Salah’s Sonnet
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 41 mins ago

    Had Kola in my team for ages now, but is he defo nailed yeah?

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 41 mins ago

      He didn't start the match. Make of that what you will.

    2. internal error
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 41 mins ago

      Wouldnt say definite but id be very confident that he starts all league games

    3. Debauchy
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 40 mins ago

      Yep

    4. AndrewTavey
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 40 mins ago

      Nobody can say he's nailed if he didn't even start this game.

    5. KAPTAIN KANE SERVES THE PAI…
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 39 mins ago

      He always was! Only community shield!

    6. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 39 mins ago

      Cool cheers guys, quite willing to have him from the off anyway i guess.

  2. Keno
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 41 mins ago

    Sead!!!!!!!!!!

  3. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 41 mins ago

    Chelsea just got a Kolonoscopy

  4. Rainer
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 41 mins ago

    So Kola is nailed now? 😛

    1. FPL ElasticO
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 40 mins ago

      looks like so

  5. 1justlookin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 41 mins ago

    Pedro will be suspended as its a straight red. 2 yellows would have been difderent

    1. _Greg
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 40 mins ago

      not suspended

    2. Agger
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 39 mins ago

      Captain obvious 🙂

    3. bojack
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 36 mins ago

      Not suspended.

  6. Sz21
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 41 mins ago

    He was in my team before this!!

    1. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 40 mins ago

      Same

    2. Annie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 40 mins ago

      Genius

    3. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 39 mins ago

      That settles it, you just won this seasobs fpl.
      Congrats.

  7. _Greg
    • 16 Years
    9 years, 41 mins ago

    c'mon penalties!

    1. Business Cat
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 38 mins ago

      Apparently any penalty shootout today will be using the ABBA system.

      The Winner Takes It All

      1. Piggs Boson
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 37 mins ago

        I like the sound of it. It makes sense.

      2. @FPL_Chess
        9 years, 31 mins ago

        Ha ha. I got it.

  8. Waxys
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 41 mins ago

    Xhaka looks nailed on.

    Hang on he could have a big season tbh

    1. Debauchy
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 39 mins ago

      He will

    2. Simon69
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 39 mins ago

      You're joking aren't you? I mean, in general.. About everything.

  9. n-doggg
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 41 mins ago

    No ban for Pedro?

    1. Rainer
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 40 mins ago

      Nope. Doesn't carry over.

    2. Forever mirin
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 40 mins ago

      Yes. Violent conduct (direct red) will carry suspension

      1. Forever mirin
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 39 mins ago

        *two yelllows would not

      2. _Greg
        • 16 Years
        9 years, 39 mins ago

        no.

        1. Forever mirin
          • 11 Years
          9 years, 38 mins ago

          I trust the commentators unless you have some other source..?

        2. soup natsi
          • 11 Years
          9 years, 38 mins ago

          Convincing

    3. Paganoi
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 39 mins ago

      Commentators just said a straight red in this match does carry over into Prem League season but 2 yellows to not. Pedro may be out.

  10. ludaslol
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 40 mins ago

    A) Willian + Tadic/6
    B) Salah + TC/LFC

    3-5-2 / 3-4-3 (bench)

    with Pogba KDB Zaha

  11. I Member
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 40 mins ago

    Why is everyone saying Pedro won't be suspended? He will.

    1. Forza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 40 mins ago

      He won't.

      1. Forza
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 40 mins ago

        😯 Yes he will, BT lied to me.

        1. Forza
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          9 years, 38 mins ago

          Or maybe he won't? Does anyone actually know?!

    2. mazzington☘
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 40 mins ago

      No he won't.

      1. Business Cat
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 39 mins ago

        Yes he will

    3. H-SF
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 40 mins ago

      He won't it's a one off the commentator said.

    4. Davido989
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 40 mins ago

      This isn't recognised as an official game. Suspensions don't count nor carry over.

      1. Davido989
        • 15 Years
        9 years, 39 mins ago

        Unless you're Mourinho, then this counts (if you win).

        1. _Greg
          • 16 Years
          9 years, 38 mins ago

          haha

      2. Deeney-is-a-god
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 31 mins ago

        It is recognised as an official game, and also an official trophy... not a major one, but still an official trophy.

        To brag about is still not cool

    5. how now brown cow
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 40 mins ago

      Man on telly said he wouldn't. BT Sport never wrong surely.

    6. :
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 39 mins ago

      Wii he?

    7. Piggs Boson
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 38 mins ago

      It's a friendly game. It's only a real trophy when United win it.

  12. :
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 40 mins ago

    Who's getting the baps?

    1. Rainer
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 40 mins ago

      Alonso for CS 😉

      1. :
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 38 mins ago

        Oh yeah.

        Kola > Alonso (-8). Done.

  13. Pirlø's Pen
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 40 mins ago

    How did Alonso look? Worth including?

    1. Guy Demel
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 39 mins ago

      CS locked

    2. Oven Glover
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 39 mins ago

      No

    3. Rainer
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 38 mins ago

      Once they don't sign Sandro by Friday then yes.

  14. TheDogTor
    • 16 Years
    9 years, 40 mins ago

    Pedro suspended, violent conduct

    1. markmcr
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 39 mins ago

      Nope

    2. Paganoi
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 39 mins ago

      This

  15. MOBAFFILIATED
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 40 mins ago

    I was the FIRST to have Kola!

    1. H-SF
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 37 mins ago

      were you though?

    2. Debauchy
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 37 mins ago

      You lie

  16. filip747
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 39 mins ago

    Is pedro suspended?

  17. Waxys
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 39 mins ago

    It's a friendly .

    Pedro isn't banned end of story

    1. TheDogTor
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 39 mins ago

      Commentary on BEIN sports says he is, violent conduct carries over

    2. Paganoi
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 38 mins ago

      Commentators just said a straight red in this match does carry over into Prem League season but 2 yellows to not.

      1. Paganoi
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 38 mins ago

        do not*

    3. Art Vandelay
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 38 mins ago

      Will you just STFU for just one minute...

      And you're wrong.

    4. Camp No No
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 37 mins ago

      It's not a friendly.

    5. Eden ACCOUNT CLOSED
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 34 mins ago

      Not friendly mug

  18. Sánchez
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 39 mins ago

    What was the Arsenal starting formation today?

    1. markmcr
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 38 mins ago

      3-4-2-1

      1. Sánchez
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 37 mins ago

        Hmm. Was Ox LB?

        1. DD
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          9 years, 35 mins ago

          He was at Lwb

        2. markmcr
          • 11 Years
          9 years, 33 mins ago

          To begin with yes. Mert going off changed it about

    2. _Greg
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 30 mins ago

      3-5-1-1

  19. FALCAO & MOU
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 39 mins ago

    Atsu bandwagon definitely, he is looking good.

    1. TooDifficuIt
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 36 mins ago

      nailed?

    2. Chandler Bing
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 36 mins ago

      Are you watching the match? Is he looking better than Ritchie and the other midfielders?

      1. FALCAO & MOU
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 29 mins ago

        Definitely better than Ritchie.

    3. Hairy Potter
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 29 mins ago

      I'm tempted. Wasn't convinced by him last season, but he played well in some last few games of last season. Also think he will benefit from a change of style in Newcastle with them playing on the break more. In the Championship they had to try and break teams down, but other teams won't set up as defensively against them this season.

  20. how now brown cow
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 38 mins ago

    Just typing fa.com rather than thefa.com.

    Much more pleasing homepage.

  21. Camp No No
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 38 mins ago

    Unlucky Arsenal. Frequently escaping their lousy performances to decent results prevents them from realising how bad they are, and makes them stick to a dysfunctional tactic until it's too late. These cup wins will feel as hollow as they are once they realise they're heading for a 2nd season in a row without CL.

    1. Debauchy
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 35 mins ago

      Huh, better side by far in the first half , what you been watching ?
      Dream on fella

      1. Debauchy
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 33 mins ago

        Bear in mind we do not have the buying power of MC MU or Chelsea . That said I see top 4 as a given this season

        1. Camp No No
          • 12 Years
          9 years, 25 mins ago

          You know, you should be favourites for the title, having no CL. And yet, I'd say top 4 is not given if you continue like this.

          You definitely have not been the better side in this match with just two boring sides. Contest has been for which one is worse, and until Pedro's red card, you were odds on to win it.

  22. Pinball wisdom
    • 17 Years
    9 years, 38 mins ago

    Something a bit different to most. Gives you something to think about....
    Hart (Elliot)
    Kos Otamedi milner bailly alonso
    Kdb pogba alli willian (Carroll)
    Laca (jrod) (crouch)

    Rubbish bench...but I've had a strong bench in the past and regretted it!

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 36 mins ago

      This gives me nothing to think about.

  23. Evasivo
    • 16 Years
    9 years, 38 mins ago

    Calm down, no points for friendlies nor hindsight

  24. jmcclory123
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 38 mins ago

    Arsenal to win the league?

  25. 1justlookin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 38 mins ago

    Martin Tyler said Pedro will be suspended... good enough for me!

  26. Net Gains
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 38 mins ago

    Pedro both is and isn't banned. It's simple.

    1. walkman666
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 36 mins ago

      Lol. Right! Board is split on this.

    2. Silva’s Left Nut
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 35 mins ago

      Schroedinger's Pedro

  27. Sebbo29
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 37 mins ago

    Nelson looks like 15

    1. La Roja
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 37 mins ago

      12*

    2. Arteta
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 34 mins ago

      He isn't much older than that.

  28. internal error
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 37 mins ago

    This suspension talk reminds me of a live interview with Sir Alex Ferguson after a super cup game where Scholes got a red card. He found out live that Scholes would be banned for a champions league game. You could see the rage fill his eyes

    1. Camp No No
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 24 mins ago

      Super Cup is an official match, at least, anyway. The winner goes to the whatever that intercontinental cup is.

      1. MB10
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        9 years, 23 mins ago

        I thought that too but its actually the winner of the CL that goes to the club world cup

  29. The Mighty I
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 37 mins ago

    Who's nailed for Palace, Hennessey or Speroni?

  30. Rainer
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 37 mins ago

    Who was even paying the extra million for Pedro anyway 😆